(Acts 17:11) "These were more
noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so."

The word "noble" is defined as
"having or showing qualities of high moral character."

The word "parrot" has as one definition
and the one I am interested in, "One who imitates the words or actions of
another, especially without understanding them," while
"conviction" is defined thusly, "the state of being convinced or
a fixed or strong belief."

There is nothing wrong with accepting the
teaching of another. I was taught and convinced a long while ago that 2x2=4
thus I will believe that unless and until someone teaches me otherwise. But I
am concerned with scripture and not arithmetic.

Down through the years I have been caused to
study certain scriptures which I had been parroting for some time. In other
words, I had without much study and forethought of my own, accepted someone
else's solution, perhaps because I believed that he had more knowledge that I
or that I had great confidence in him. Then, perhaps because someone had
questioned that belief and presented something different, I studied said
scripture more thoroughly and reached a different conclusion than what my past
one had been.

But the point I want to make is this: the new
conclusion is now MY conviction. I have reached it by study and meditation. It
is MINE! Certainly someone else stirred up my lazy, parrot mind but I did not
accept the new position because of the conviction of another. I searched the
scriptures and found that his solution was more in harmony what the scripture
was saying. No need to give blame or credit to another. I have arrived at my
own conclusion that this is right. I will present it now as MY conviction and
urge YOU to do the same.

May God help us all in our search for truth to
"Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs
not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (ASV 2 Timothy
2:15).